#laroza

Ber-ber months is here and you know what that means? Christmas is fi-na-lly near! (Oh boy, my first present came early.) I have a lot more to share because I’ve always missed chatting with you through my blog, but I have to keep this conversation short for I have a great news for all of you.

Are you a pro online-shopper? Do you think that you’ve already gotten first dibs on the cheapest pairs or trendiest fits? And since all of us are trying to search for Christmas presents as early as now, do you think you’ve found the most affordable deals yet? Not saying that I’m too “kuripot”, but who doesn’t like spending little and saving a lot right?

*Wooooosh* says my jacket. Haha! 

These past few days, I’m starting to realize that I need a new set of wardrobe. Luckily, I found out about this online portal called Shopback.ph. I saw my favorite online shops like Zalora, ASOS, and Lazada. Bought a few things because they were having massive discounts, and can you imagine –I got rewarded. Now, before I get into the details, let’s check out first the details –of my outfit.

What I’m wearing: shirt(Zalora), jeans(Mint), glasses(SM Accessories), tote bag(@theradclubph), slip-ons(Zalora).

Shirt from Zalora.

Tote bag from @theradclubph.

In Shopback.ph, you’ll see merchants like Zalora, Lazada, ASOS, Old Navy, even Daniel Wellington, Topman, GAP, and 300+ more of your favorite scroll-through shops while they’re having their crazy deals and surreal discounts. 

Head on over to see the top merchants offering discounts and cashback.

Glasses from SM Accessories.

With only 4 easy steps, you don’t need to battle it out against the busy (and sometimes sketchy) streets of Divisoria anymore.

Faux leather Slip-ons from Zalora.

You’ll get CashBack everytime you purchase your items through Shopback.ph’s selected merchants. For more information, watch the video below:

Welcome to Philippines’ top online shopping savings site!

So do you want to be a Brylliant shopper like your’s truly? Start making your wishlist and shop now using Shopback.ph! 

Happy shopping!

Can you guys believe it? Who would’ve thought that a classic sneaker would ever upgrade itself after almost a century? This bad boy just went from Jurassic to Futuristic. (Not much with the design though.) But, you can tell and probably feel that there are some changes and additions made to this iconic original that really made their fans started breaking piggy banks for first dibs. 

Introducing the all new Converse Chuck Taylor II. An upgraded version of our worn out but still dope chucks. As you know, the Chuck Taylor that we have in our closet for quite some time is actually 98 years old. Can you imagine? almost all of us weren’t even born yet. They say that back in the old days, they were made and used by NBA players as rubber shoes. But then generation came, and they didn’t last long for the tall dudes who plays basketball wearing short shorts.

But during the 70′s, musicians, rappers, skaters, and other artists were seen wearing the sneakers which got the brand back in the game and since then, it has been used by all types of people to complete their casual get-up. Believe it or not, it has been a part of our day to day lives.

Since it’s been almost 100 years, and they are now used in almost any occasion, they think that it is finally time for a makeover. According to Nylon.com, the company had spoken with different types of professionals and searched for feedback on how they embody the shoe in their daily rituals. And with that feedback, they knew what has to change.

Aside from the authentic look of the shoe, we have to consider that we don’t just wear our chucks for flaunting or to cover up our feet. We wear them to also protect our feet from soar due to the activities we’ve done for the day. And let’s face it, your chucks ain’t giving you much of a comfort now do they?

Chuck Taylor II includes the Nike Lunarlon padding. Since Nike owns Converse, this is the game changer that made everyone excited about the release of the version II.

when I was younger, I used to wear chucks all the time. may it be in the mall, or just along the streets of manila, and it’s just a sad thing whenever it’s already worn-out and cracks are starting to appear from the sides to the sole. But no matter how destroyed it gets, I still wear them anyway.

What I personally like about the Chuck Taylor II is that it is almost identical to the first one. Which means the authentic design still remains. But with the version II, the materials used are has more high quality if given the chance to be inspected up-close.

I think I just had a glimpse of heaven. Can you not see the beauty of this all white pair of the new Chucks? HAHA! Okay, I’m going to start saving up again and hopefully get my hands on this beauty. 

Starting last July 28, was the official release of Chuck Taylor II. Prices starts at 3,990Php. So what are you waiting for? Drag you’re parents to  the nearest store and start promising that you’ll do great in school.

What’s up guys? Sorry this took longer than expected. But here you go! For this week’s post, we are giving fashion a break and go to my other love, which is Photography. Today I’m going to spill some of my secrets in achieving good quality photos. I believe that the only way people will be forced to stop and stare at the photos you produce (besides how it looks), is if it’s also visibly attractive. Photos are already beautiful depending on how it is interpreted. But if the quality is also high, I bet the photos are just going to be on an even higher level of beauty.

Believe me or not, the following photos you’ll see here are taken with my phone only. When I took shots, it looked alright as it is. But with the help of my not-so secret (anymore) tools, it became even more visibly attractive.

Here are my top three go to Apps that has been helping me on my photo surgeries. VSCOcam, Afterlight, and Snapseed. They just never fail to impress me every time. The great thing about these apps, is that you can spend hours and hours of experimenting lights, tones, colors, temperature, and of course, filters. And if you’re like me, the best part is that you’ll be having tons of fun.

Now I know you’re wondering, they’re all simply photo-editing tools. But, what makes them different from each other, what do I like about them, and what makes me use them all instead of just one? Well, here’s my answer to those:

VSCOcam - No doubt about it, this is my first love. Because this is where filters were first known and loved by people (and me), and I cannot imagine my feed without A9 or A7. Haha! My only purpose in VSCOcam is to add that extra drama to bring life to my photos, or even tell a story. Simple as that! 

What’s in here: sling bag(SM Accessories), case(Crownedvelvet), shades(@jpdeleon).

Next we have, Afterlight - this is not a free app so you might want to start asking your friends who has the app, and start treating them nicely (don’t ask me how I got mine). Anyway, Afterlight also has amazing filters to choose from. 

But what’s great about it is that you can combine multiple filters and adjust the strength to create your own combination of colors and values to the photo. And what makes it look even more dramatic, is the Textures. you can fill in light leaks, or dust to create that illusion as if the photo is vintage or has disturbance which makes the photo look undoubtedly cooler.

What’s in here: case(Crownedvelvet), cap(SM Accessories), pomade(Slicky Ricky’s).

Last, but also one of my new found faves is Snapseed - This time, i’m not going to talk about filters and effects. What really made me WOW by this app is because of everything under the Tools section. It has set a standard on other editing apps. No need to tell you guys how it amazes me every time, just go to your app store, download it, and try it for yourself. Believe me, you won’t be using Photoshop for most of your Instagram photos anymore.

What’s in here: watch(Casio), perfume(Calvin Klein), planner(Starbucks).

And there you have it! I hope you guys are now thirsty in trying these apps after reading my comments about each one. All these are available on the App store and Google Play. Now off you go and create wonderful shots and make it even more “Brylliant”. Enjoy!

Photos taken by: Bryan Laroza

Another late post. Yay! (when will I ever learn...) Sorry for that! I was a bit MIA this week because I was sick and I just stayed in almost the whole week. But, I’m all better now and going back to do photo shoots so hopefully I can post at least one or two times a week.

On the other side of this post, did you guys had fun last June 7? That’s right, #BU9xSMART was a blast (literally) because of it’s new get up. This season’s installment was a bit different because they’ve added cocktails, DJs, and the event was a whole lot more star-studded. 

This season, I went a little wild with my mix and match (because my hair has serious outfit-matching issues). But in the end, I liked how it turned out. It’s kind of like a mix of both preppy and grunge. But you know, underneath those smiles and calm-looking poses, a lot had happened during my day.

Ok, so my post for this week was supposed to be focused on me trying to incorporate formal wear on a casual day. But as I am writing this, I realized that I look like a body guard that just got off his shift and wants to take pictures. GAH! Oh well! I can’t do anything about it now, can I? Sometimes you’re on point, and sometimes you’re not. But I guess that’s what fashion really is about, it’s all about the risks. And at the end of the day, we leave it for the people to judge.

That’s exactly who I am. I am a fashion blogger who never goes for the usual. Every time that I post something here on my blog, I make sure that it’s unexpected and my own. Now moving on to the outfit part of this post. I wore this ensemble last month (I know... better late than never right?) for a small catch-up with my old pals because I haven’t seen them (except on Instagram) for a year. 

Why is it so hot in Metro M regardless of summer? These past few weeks, going outside is really no joke. The heat is irritating and it’s just suicidal to go out of the house between 11am-3pm. So, always protect yourselves by wearing sunscreen. And if you’re really not going out because you need to, then I suggest that you better stay at home, drink lots of water, and do some indoor activities. Here’s one suggestion, why not just scroll through my blog the whole day? Haha! Maybe you can even throwback on how I look like two years ago. And then you can compare what I look like during high school and now that I’m in college. 

For me, it’s just another term that ended. But for others, it’s another school that they have to say good bye to. And it only means that after the blues of leaving their friends, their super brainy seatmates, and congratulating them for a job well done, another dilemma is coming their way      job hunt. And then I wonder what do artists wear when they go for a job interview? Do they also need to wear suits? (Because I’m really not up for that.) So, I thought of ideas on what you could wear in a job interview if you’re an artist just like me. Hope that this can inspire you, and can give you loads of ideas!

How’s it going guys? I am so relieved that school is over and it’s time for me to sit back and breathe into the fresh summer air. Now, this is just a short post I want to share with you guys (meaning the male readers). Hope this will give you a heads up on grooming. Enjoy! 

I have this long, messy, kinky hair ever since, and I always struggle every morning just to make it look good. Maybe that's one of the reasons why I'm always late for school. (HAHA! Excuses Bryan.) So I looked for ways on how to make it look like a guy supermodel hair. You know, like the ones you spot on Tumblr or Instagram. I always watch tutorials on how I’d be able to groom my hair fast, easy, and will of course look Brylliant! Almost all the videos I've watched kept on mentioning a substance they apply called pomade. At first, I thought it was just another type of wax or gel. But no!

I got curious, so I searched for one. Sadly, there was none in the local supermarket, and the ones I've found on the internet are so darn expensive. Such a drag. So I kept on searching. When I was about to give up, a friend of mine introduced me their product.

Say good bye to your old icky sticky hair holders and say hello to Slicky Ricky's Classic Deluxe. Made from beeswax, petrolatum, mineral oil, and fragrum, making sure that it keeps your hair looking healthy and shiny while holding every strand and keeping your hair smelling good for hours. This is an all natural pomade so you’re rest assured that your hair will not get damage.

When I tried it for the first time, it really helped my kinky hair turn straight without spending a lot of time with my trusty blow dryer and it smelled great throughout the day.

I believe that an ensemble will never look finished without our hair looking the part.If I were you, I'd check out there Instagram at @slickyrickyspomade, and buy a dozen. LOL! 

It is time to prove to those people that you're not that helpless kid anymore that they can tease and play with. You have to fight back (not in a violent way...) and show them that they can't hurt you. And there are a lot of ways how you can show it to them. But the problem with some people is that they don't know how to start or where to begin with. For starters, It doesn't matter how you start changing yourself as long as you're changing not for revenge or comeback but you're changing for yourself. Because you don't want to feel the same things over and over again. And feel the pain anymore. Just remember to change for the better. 

And when the time comes, they will eventually see you on the streets and they will give you respect. And not only that, they might even treat you differently and be friends with you. But i suggest don't get tricked by the whole friend thing. Anyway, Anyone can prove to anybody that they're not who they think they are by not doing any physical contact. For example: In battles, one will never need big chucks of protein to take down an enemy. All that person needs is a mind and strategy. And mind beats muscles every single time.